Manufacturing sector needs to attract Gen Y

The most sought-after employees will be engineers and technicians, production workers, skilled labourers and trades workers. "Engineering is one of the high-demand occupations," says Andrew McColl.Photo by
Stuart Gradon/file

The Canadian manufacturing sector has taken a hit in the past few years - especially Ontario - but there are pockets of stronger hiring activity and the most pressing issue is how employers are failing to address the generation gap between Millennials and generation X workers, according to a new survey by PwC Canada.

Current approaches employed by organizations in the industrial manufacturing sector are not enough to meet the needs of Generation Y, a group that will make up 50 per cent of the global workforce by 2020, says the study.

Gen Y, or those born from about 1980 onward, are struggling to find meaningful work-life balance, mentoring and career-path development. However, 90 per cent of the Canadian industrial manufacturers surveyed strictly offer traditional pay and incentive programs.

"Understanding the changing values of the Millennials and adjusting to meet their requirements should be on the agenda for Canadian industrial manufacturing companies," says Teresa Carvalho, a managing director with PwC's consulting and deals practice.

"Gen Ys are looking for rewards that specifically fit their requirements and where they are in life," she adds. "Manufacturing executives need to think about flexible working arrangements and initiating creative programs for professional development in order to attract top recruits from universities."

Only 44 per cent of employers surveyed offer career development opportunities, while 42 per cent offer mentoring programs.

Hiring intentions are up, however, despite global uncertainty and "cautious optimism" in the sector. Seventy-six per cent of Canadian manufacturers are optimistic about Canada's economic prospects in the next year, up 19 per cent from last year.

"What we are seeing is that while there is plenty of optimism on the horizon, there is still the reality of financial instability in global markets," says Calum Semple, PwC's national industrial manufacturing leader.

The most sought-after employees will be engineers and technicians, production workers, skilled labourers and trades workers.

"Engineering is one of the high-demand occupations," says Andrew McColl, manager of consulting and deals practice in Calgary for PwC.

Process, mechanical and electrical engineers are in highest demand as lean manufacturing concepts continue to become more prevalent in the sector, referring to technological and equipment modifications that make operations more efficient.

"You end up with more engineers in design and modification of manufacturing plants," says McColl.

For manufacturers that can afford it, talent is available - mostly - if they know where to look, he adds. "It's a good time to hire in manufacturing organizations," McColl says.

"It's still a healthy employer in Canada."

Mechanical engineers continue to be in highest demand of all occupations, although the trades, general labourers and those with specialized skills are still sought out.

"You end up with a higher skill level of technicians and operators to run the machines, which are rather more complex than your basic assembly line," says McColl.

In Alberta, unlike Ontario, manufacturing is running relatively strong due to the oil and gas industry.

"There's cautious optimism about the oilpatch, but not a lot of optimism about the world economy," explains McColl.

"The manufacturing sector in Alberta is very much driven by oil, gas and utilities," he adds.

The sector in Alberta is about the same size as the energy sector in the province, despite some people's perceptions across the country. It does rely heavily, however, on manufacturing goods for the oil and gas industry, making it somewhat unique and demanding skills aligned with that industry.

It employs about 132,000 people in the Alberta, fluctuating with the price of oil.

"Wherever oil and gas goes is where manufacturing tends to go in Alberta," says McColl.

Related Posts

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.